Scoreboard



Nov. 21, 1939. R. A. NEVINGER SCOREBOARD Filed July 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l wm@ 55m i] wu cfm/tofs We mww mm3? R. AUI/6U www@ NOV. 2l, 1939. R, A NEVINGER 2,180,908

SCOREBOARD Filed July 2J 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ggg. 5.

Nov. 2l, 1939. R. A. NEVINGER SCOREBOARD Si COMM/516 Nov. 21, 1939. R. A. NEvlNGi-:R 2,180,908

SCOREBOARD Filed July 2, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 SMM/wp Patented Nov. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orf-ice 1 Claim.

This invention relates to scoreboards and more particularly to scoreboards of the electrically operated type, designed primarily for scoring the points of the game of basket ball.

An important object of the invention is to provide an electric scoreboard which may be operated by an attendant operating an electrical switch, the mechanism of the scoreboard being such that the score, quarter being played and number of remaining minutes to play, will be displayed so that an accurate reading of the scoreboard and complete standing of the opposing teams may be readily determined.

A. further object of the invention is the provision of means to cause an audible signal to be made when the scoreboard is operated to indicate time out or when the time for playing is becoming short.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical scoreboard wherein the dials may be readily returned to their initial positions when it has been found that the scoreboard has been operated to display the score incorrectly.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is an elevational view of a scoreboard constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational View of the clock mechanism, forming a part of the scoreboard.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the switch boxes.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the switch board operated by the score keeper.

Figure 'l is a rear elevational view of one of the dials, illustrating the contact member at the rear of the dial.

Figure 8 is a partly sectional side elevational view of one of the dials and housing structure.

Figure 9 is a plan view of one of the dials.

Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the various electrical circuits of the scoreboard.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the cabinet of the scoreboard is in the form of a housing ernbodying a lower section 5 and an upper section 6, the housing or cabinet being formed with display openings A and B in the front wall thereof, arranged in pairs, the openings of each pair being arranged in close proximity for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Mounted within the lower section 5 of the cabinet, are dials I and 8, which are formed of suitable translucent material and supplied with in- 10 dicia on the outer surfaces thereof to be viewed through the display openings as the dials are rotated, the indicia representing the score of the game being played. While I have shown two sets of these dials as mounted within the cabinet, one set of dials representing the score of the home team and the other set of dials representing the score of the visiting team, and because both sets of dials are identical and operated in the same manner, only the set of dials representing the home team and circuits controlling these dials, will be described.

As clearly shown, these dials 1 and 8 are mounted on shafts 9 which extend through openings in the uprights I0, forming a part of the frame structure of the cabinet or housing, the dials being mounted for rotary movement on their shafts. Secured to the rear surface of each of the dials is a disk II constructed of insulating material, which disks .are supplied with contact plates I2 formed with cutout portions I3 providing spaces exposing portions of the insulating disks.

The numeral Il (Fig. 10) indicates the power wire of the electric circuit controlling the motors and lamps of the scoreboard. As clearly shown by the drawings, the wire I4 extends into the main switch box I5 where it connects with the contact point I6 of the switch I1, which is of the key operated type. The wire I8 connects with the -4,0 switch member I8 which is engaged by the switch member Il, when the key is operated to close a circuit. This Wire I8 extends to a position where it is in circuit with the shafts 9, through the wires I9 and 20.

'Ihe wire`l8 provides the positive wire of the motor circuits of the device. Associated with the contact plate of the dial 1, is a contact arm 2| which is supported by an upright I0 and insulated therefrom, which contact arm wipes the contact plate of the dial 1, completing a circuit. Under normal conditions the contact arm 2| rests in a cutout portion of the contact member between sections of the contact plate, breaking the circuit to the motor associated with the dial.

Connected wtih the contact arm 2I is a wire 22 through which current iiows to the motor 23 that operates the dial 1, through the roller frictionally engaging the periphery of the dial 1 rotating the dial 1, as shown by Figure 1 of the drawings. 1

The motors are mounted on the pivoted supports 25 (Fig. 1) and the rollers 24 mounted on the shafts of the motors are held into engagew ment with the dials, by the weight of the motors.

Wire 26 connects with the motor 23 and connects with a terminal 21 to which the wire 28 is connected, the wire 28 leading into the control switch 29, where it connects with the contact g5 member 30. The switch member 3| is adapted to engage the contact member 30 completing a circuit between the switch member and wire I8, through the wire 32 which connects with the wire I8 and provides the return wire of the circuit to the motor 23. The motor 23 is also in circuit with the negative wire 33 through wires 34, 39 and 35. Thus it will be seen that when the switch member 3| is operated to complete the circuit to the motor 23, current flows directly to the motor 23, through the wires 28 and 28, through the motor and through the wires 34, 35 and 33. The dial 1 now rotates slightly, causing the contact arm 2l to ride out of the cutout portion of the contact plate, and engage the con- 3@ tact plate completing the circuit to the motor through the wires I8, and 20, contact disk, contact arm 2| and wire 22. The motor continues to operate, rotating the dial until the contact arm drops into the next adjacent space of the g5 contact disk, whereupon the contact arm again rests on thev insulation between the contact sections, breaking the circuit to the motor and causing the dial to discontinue its rotary rnove ment. 'Ihe next number of the dial is now prea sented to view through the display opening of the housing, representing a change in the score.

In circuit with the contact plate i2, is a contact member 35 which is arranged directly opposite to the number 2 of the dial 1. A contact s arm 36 wipes the periphery of the disk II and is adapted to engage the contact member 35 completing a circuit to the motor 3B through the wires 31 and 38, the return circuit being completed through the'wires 39 and the wires 35' and 33. Contact arm 4I wipes the contact plate I2 of the dial 8 completing the circuit to the motor 36 which continues to operate the dial 8 until the adjacent number of the dial is exposed through the display opening When the contact arm 4I drops into a cutout portion of the dial 8, the circuit to the motor 36' will be broken and the motor 35' will cease to operate. Thus it will be seen that with each complete revolution of the dial 1, the dial 8 will be moved to bring a number thereof to a position to be viewed through the display opening.

fThe upper and lower sections of the cabinet are illuminated by the lamps 42 positioned within the cabinet, the lamps 42 lighting when the key switch of the switch box I5 is operated, the lamps receiving their electric current through the wire 42', which connects with the wire i8, and is in circuit with the switch I1, and wire I4.

Mounted in the upper section 6 of the cabinet is a clock 43, which is of the electrically operated type, the clock being provided with a minute hand 44 and a second hand 45, the dial of the clock being supplied with numbers ranging from 1 to 8, the spaces between the numbers representing minutes, to the end that with each comaisance plete rotation of the minute hand, one eight minute quarter of the game, has been played. It will of course be understood that this dial may be changed to meet the requirements of play of any game for which the device has been designed.

The clock includes a frame embodying plates 48 and 41 supported in spaced relation 'with each other. The main shaft of the clock is indicated by the reference character 48 and is operated by the clock mechanism, through the gears 49 and 58. The shaft 5I supports the second hand which makes one complete revolution every minute, while the shaft 48 supports the minute hand that makes a complete revolution every Aeight minutes, which is the length of a quarter.

Directly below the shaft 48 is a shaft 52 on which the gear 53 is mounted, which gear receives rotary motion from the shaft 48, through the gear 54 that meshes therewith. Carried by the gear 53, is a contact arm 55 that wipes the contact segments 58 supported within the frame, and insulated from the frame by means of the insulating block 51. These contact segments 58, are in circuit with the lamps 58, 59, 80' and 5|, respectively, which lamps are arranged within compartments 82 that are disposed on opposite sides of the clock housing, the compartments being supplied with translucent front walls so that light rays from the lamps may illuminate the numbers carried thereon, which numbers indicate the quarters of the game." In order to identify the contact segments with their particular lamps, the segments are numbered I, 2, 3 and 4. 'I'he segment I is in circuit with the lamp 58, through the wire 83, the return wire of the circuit being indicated by the reference character 54 which is in circuit with the wire 55 that in turn connects with the wire 35 leading to the wire 33. TheV circuit ls completed to the segment I, through the arm 55 which wipes the segments, the arm 55 receiving electric current through the shaft 52 which is engaged by the arm 6I) that in turn is in circuit with the power line or wire I4, through the wire 81, which connects with the `wire 68 that connects with the wire I8 leading into the switch box. From this point the current ilows through the wire I4 completing the circuit and causing the lamp 58 to illuminate a compartment indicating that the first quarter is being played.

The gearing for operating the contact arm 55, is so constructed that with each complete revolution of the minute hand 44, the contact arm 55 will move throughout the length of one segment to the end that the lamp in the compartment indicating` the quarter being played will remain lighted for a period of eight minutes.

When the second quarter is being played, the contact arm 55 will rest on the segment 2 which completes the circuit to the lamp 58, through the wire 59, wire 55, wire 35, wire 33.I The return line of the circuit being through wire 51, wire 68, wire I8, switch box I5, and wire il.

When the third quarter is being played, contact arm 55 rests on segment number 3 completing the circuit through the wire 18, wire 65, wire 35 and wire 33, the return line of this circuit being through the arm 68, wire 81, wire 88, wire I8 into the switch boxv I5. and through wire I4. When the fourth or last quarter is being played, the contact arm 55 moves to engage segment number 4, lighting the lamp 8|, which is colored red to further accentuate the fact that the time for play is short. When the arm 55 engages segment number 4. the circuit is completed to the red lamp 8|, through the wire 1|, wire 65, wire 36 and wire 33, the return line of this circuit being through the arm 66, wire 61, wire 68, wire |8 through the switch box and power line I4.

When it is desired to start play, the switch arm 12 is moved to engage the contact member 13, which is in circuit with the clock motor, through the wires 14 and 15, the return wire of this circuit being through the wire 88 that connects with the wire 38.

Mounted on the shaft 11 oi' the clock frame, is a disk 18 formed of insulating material, the disk 18 being mounted to rotate with the shaft 11, which is rotated through the gears 19 and 80. Mounted within the clock frame, is a pivoted contact arm 8| which is in circuit with the wire 61. This contact arm 8| normally engages the contact arm 82 which is in circuit with the white lamps 89' of the clock cabinet, through the wire 83, the circuit also including the wires 84, wire 36', and wire 33. I'he return circuit is made through the wire 86 which connects with the wire 61. the wire 68, wire |8, switch box I6, and through the wire I4. The disk 18 is formed with a substantially long, cutout portion 86 disposed in the periphery thereof, the cutout portion permitting the nger 81 of the pivoted contact arm 8l, to move downwardly with the result that the contact arm 8| will engage the contact arm 88, breaking the circuit to the lamps of the cabinet, and completing the circuit to the red lamps 88 of the cabinet, the circuit being made through the wire 90 which connects with the wire 36' that in turn connects with the wire 33. Mounted on the shaft 11, in spaced relation with the disk 18, is a disk 9|, which is also constructed of insulating material, the disk 9| being mounted on the shaft 11 to rotate therewith. This disk 8| is i'ormed with a cutout portion 82 disposed in its periphery. Under normal conditions, the electric circuit to the clock motor is made when the switch arm 12 is moved to engage the contact member B, in which case the current flows through the wires 83. 16, contact arm 84 which is held into engagement with the contact arm 86 by reason of the enlargement 86 of the contact arm resting on the periphery of the disk 9|. The current now passes through the wire 81, into the clock, the :saturn iie oi' the circuit being through wires and When the disk 8| moves to a position wherein the enlargement 96 may drop into the cutout portion 92, the contact arm 84 will move into engagement with the contact arm 99 completing a circuit through the wires |00 and |0|, to the siren |02, the return line of the circuit being through the wire |03, and wire 33. 'I'hus it will be seen that with each complete revolution of the disk 9|, the siren will be sounded indicating that a quarter has been completed.

Should it be desired to take time out for any reason, the switch arm |06 is moved to engage its contact point and switch arm 12 is moved to engage the contact point |04 of the switch box, whereupon the circuit is completed to the siren through the wire |05, wire |0I, the return line of the circuit being through wire |03 and wire 33. It will of course be understood that with the completing of' the circuit to the siren, the circuit to the clock is automatically broken owing to the fact that the contact arms 94 and 95 are moved out of contact with each other. When the switch member 12 has been moved to engage contact |04 during time out, the score keeper may cause the siren to be sounded by operating the switch |06, whereupon the electric current flows through wire I4, through switch member 12, through switch member I 06, wire |05. wire |0|, through the siren and through wire |08 to the negative wire 33 of the circuit.

I claim:

In a display device, a housing, an indicating member operating within the housing, groups of distinctive lamp signals within the housing and adapted to illuminate the housing, a source of electricity supply, a constantly moving time controlled switch including a disk having an elongated notch in its periphery, spaced upper and lower stationary contact arms in circuit with the source of electricity supply, each of the contact arms being in circuit with a certain group of lamp signals, a movable contact arm having an enlargement adapted to engage the disk and move the movable contact arm into engagement with the upper stationary contact arm completing a circuit to certain lamp signals, and said enlargement adapted to move into the elongated notch, lowering the movable contact arm into engagement with the lower stationary contact arm completing a circuit to another group oi' signal lamps for a predetermined period.

RALPH ARTHUR NEVINGER. 

